Meath Women's Aid Housing Association Company Limited by Guarantee (Willow Domestic Abuse Services (formerly known as Meath Women's Refuge & Support Services))

Lobbying Organisation Meath Women's Aid Housing Association Company Limited by Guarantee

Date published 16 May, 2023

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Housing

Period 1 Jan, 2023 to 30 Apr, 2023

Specific Details We sought a meeting with the Minister following a letter sent in November regarding our CAS approved project to build a new refuge

Intended results A review of the agreed costings for the project given the expansion in the size and scale of the project

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Sinead Smith

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) Yes

Current or Former Designated Public Official(s)

Thomas Byrne (Former DPO) TD (Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation)

Shane Cassells (Former DPO) Senator (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (2-5)

Phone call 26th January and email regarding a meeting with Minister O’Brien-contacted Senator Shane Cassells regarding our refuge development Email 23rd January to Thomas Byrne TD regarding a meeting with Minister O’Brien re refuge development We sent a number of emails also to the Minister's diary secretary in Housing between November and April seeking a meeting.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Darragh O'Brien Minister (Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage)